Tag: cal newport

The Relation of Cognitive Load Theory and Deep Work

people holding their phones

Cognitive Load Theory (A Primer)

Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) was given it’s first exposure in 1988 by John Sweller. It built off of a line of research dating back to George Miller’s work detailing the limitations of our working (short term) memory. The simple understanding is that our brains are extremely limited in what they can do in the short term, yet nearly unlimited in what they can store for the long term. As CLT developed, three clear classes of cognitive load were identified that provide great relevance to those of us trying to do deep work or apply deliberate practice to any area of our life. Those classes are:

  1. Intrinsic
  2. Germane
  3. Extraneous
(more…)

September 15, 2020 Add Comment

Welcome to the disconnect

If you know me, you know I deleted all social media a month or so ago (it’s almost June 2019).

I’m done with it for good. I already don’t think highly of most people, and getting away from that crap has been great for my own focus and well being. I’ve read 7 books in that time and am well into my 8th.

I’ll be borrowing from Cal Newport on the ideas of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism for sure. I’m even considering titling these shorter posts as shallow and longer ones as deep.

There’s a contact email for this site that I’ll probably check from time to time, but I’m really not interested in much more than getting ideas out of my head and onto something more permanent.

Here’s a nice little starter video to give you an idea of how some of these concepts have affected a person whose entire job is built around being always connected:

May 21, 2019 Add Comment